Author: roymorgansocial

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence Creeps Higher

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Jul-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by 0.6 per cent to 112.5 in the week ended 26 July 2015. This follows a rise of 4.5 per cent in the previous week, driven by easing concerns around the Greece debt crisis and China stock market volatility. Despite this bounce, consumer confidence remains subdued and is down 3.2 per cent compared with this time in 2014. The sub-index for households’ finances in the next year rose by 1.1 per cent, but the sub-indices for confidence in the economic outlook over the short-term and medium term fell by 1.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Staff cuts risk ‘dangerous spiral’ at Myer

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 28-Jul-15

Citigroup’s Craig Woolford says Myer Holdings’ plan to scale back its permanent workforce could backfire by adversely affecting customer service and in turn leading to lower sales. The department store group also proposes a 20 per cent reduction in working hours for casual and part-time employees. Myer argues that the changes will result in greater rostering flexibility during periods when staff are most in demand. Myer shed 80 employees at its head office earlier in 2015.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION

SMSFs opt for better returns

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Original article by Kate Cowling
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 28-Jul-15

A report by the SMSF Association and nabtrade shows that 15 per cent of self-managed superannuation fund members opted to outsource the investment process in 2014. This compares with just 7.3 per cent in 2012. Almost 40 per cent of SMSF investors chose to handle investment decisions themselves in 2014, which has not changed much since 2012. The report also shows that falling interest rates have prompted many SMSF members to increase their exposure to assets such as shares.

CORPORATES
SELF-MANAGED SUPER FUND ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NABTRADE

Ten CEO exit clears way for Foxtel

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 28-Jul-15

Ten Network COO Paul Anderson will succeed Hamish McLennan as CEO. McLennan has also stepped down as executive chairman in favour of an independent replacement, David Gordon. The departure of McLennan as executive chairman could increase the chances of Ten’s equity deal with Foxtel being approved by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, as he has strong links with the Murdoch family. SMI data shows that Ten’s share of advertising revenue was 23.1 per cent in June 2015.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FREEHILLS PTY LTD, SMI MEDIA INCORPORATED

Supermarkets dominate fruit and vegetable trade – even among people shopping at produce markets

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Jul-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 87 per cent of Australian grocery buyers aged 14+ bought fresh fruit and vegetables during an average week in the year to March 2015. Some 72 per cent bought fruit and vegetables at a supermarket in an average seven days, while 11 per cent shopped for fresh produce at a market or stall. The survey also shows that 54 per cent of consumers who bought fruit and vegetables at a market or stall also did so at a supermarket.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW

L-NP support slumps amid Bronwyn Bishop travel expense ‘misconduct’ and as the ALP commits to renewable energy & ‘turn back the boats’ policy

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 27-Jul-15

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for Australia’s ruling Liberal-National Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has fallen by three per cent to 46 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 18-19 and 25-26 July 2015, also shows that the Coalition’s primary vote has fallen by 2.5 per cent to 39 per cent, while the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has risen by 0.5 points to 91 points. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the Coalition Government has no alternative but to show the electorate how it will grow the economy and provide more jobs, and the answer is not a higher GST or an increase in the Medicare levy.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, KATTER’S AUSTRALIAN PARTY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

iiNet founder Malone yields to TPG Telecom

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Original article by Tess Ingram, David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 28-Jul-15

Some 95 per cent of votes cast at a meeting of iiNet shareholders on 27 July 2015 were in favour of TPG Telecom’s $A1.56bn takeover bid. Michael Malone says the suitor is paying a good price for the ISP he founded in 1993. Malone had rejected TPG’s first cash-only bid, and says iiNet directors had done well to gain a better deal for shareholders. The takeover will make TPG the second-largest broadband provider in Australia, with about 1.7 million customers.

CORPORATES
IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, M2 GROUP LIMITED – ASX MTU, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, MERLON CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

Navitas flat forecast has shareholders nervous

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Original article by Yolanda Redrup
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 28-Jul-15

Listed education provider Navitas has posted a 2014-15 after-tax net profit of $A71.8m, which is 39 per cent higher than previously. CEO Rod Jones concedes that investors may have expected a higher profit, but describes it as "reasonable". EBITDA rose by 13 per cent to $A163.1, while revenue was 12 per cent higher at $A980.3m. Jones has advised that the group’s 2015-16 profit will be similar to its latest result.

CORPORATES
NAVITAS LIMITED – ASX NVT, KATANA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, STUDY OVERSEAS NOW PTY LTD, NAVITAS RESOURCES INSTITUTE, SYDNEY INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

Atlas Iron shares slide after return to trading

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Original article by Peter Ker, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 28-Jul-15

More than 266 million Atlas Iron shares changed hands on 27 July 2015, after the stock traded for the first time since April. The iron ore producer’s shares closed at $A0.036 after reaching an intra-day low of $A0.031, and Matthew Keane of Argonaut believes that the stock could fall further Atlas shares were placed in a trading halt at $A0.12 in April, and the latest slump has reduced its market capitalisation to just $A95.9m.

CORPORATES
ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, ARGONAUT SECURITIES PTY LTD, BGC CONTRACTING PTY LTD, McALEESE LIMITED – ASX MCS

Gold’s fair value is $US750: Deutsche

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Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 28-Jul-15

Gold was trading at about $US1,096 per ounce on 27 July 2015, although Deutsche Bank believes that the precious metal remains significantly overvalued. The investment bank has released a report which concludes that "fair value" for gold is around $US785 an ounce. However, the report also states that in real terms the gold price would have to fall to around $US750/ounce in order to be trading at its historical average.

CORPORATES
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, ABN AMRO BANK NV, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, WORLD BANK